ARMSTRONG MT

500cc Petrol Class 2

88.6%

first-time pass rate

6.3%

failed outright

19,747

median miles at test

158

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the MT's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage MT passes first time 94.1% of the time; by 20k that's 86.0%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a MT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	10	45.5
tyres and wheels	4	18.2
brakes	3	13.6
steering and suspension	2	9.1
reg plates and vin	1	4.5
lamps and reflectors	1	4.5
structure and attachments	1	4.5

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the MT beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the MT.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 1985 (88.8% pass). Weakest: 1985 (88.8%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.